Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Ward.
Erin, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I absolutely love the saying, “Life is a journey, not a destination.” It’s a great reminder to enjoy each and every day as we are on the journey we call “life.” I believe when our focus is only on our end destination or goal, we miss out on all of the wonderful things along the way!
With that, I began my career, as an elementary teacher. For 10 years, I truly enjoyed teaching and building up my students to believe in themselves, but ultimately, my passion was to reach beyond the four walls of a classroom.
While teaching, I discovered the power of natural health and wellness. Through the books I read, the audios I listened to, and the seminars I attended, I quickly became aware of the many unhealthy ingredients that are hidden in our foods, personal care products, and household cleaners. I joke that I’m a “label fanatic” now and I’m constantly examining the ingredients in the products I eat and use on my body. And let me tell you when you do your research, it’s very eye-opening!
The big shift in my journey occurred when I discovered the power of essential oils! They truly were a game changer! I was teaching kindergarten, had just experienced a loss in the family, and let’s just say my immune system was way down. Every time I’d get better, something else would come my way! I went to a family friend who gave me Thieves essential oil blend. To my surprise, it I saw the great result and was able to enjoy the rest of the winter with more energy and vitality. I used Thieves regularly for the rest of my teaching career and attribute it to the fact that I felt great and never missed a day in the classroom as a result! I always tell others that Thieves was my “gateway” oil to the wonderful world of essential oils!
Fast forward to today. I currently teach classes about essential oils all throughout Atlanta as well as online. My goal is to empower as many people to become educated about the foods we eat and the chemical filled products that are in our homes, and as a result, show them that essential oils are a safer and effective alternative. In addition, I recently published a brand new cookbook. Essential Thyme is a gluten friendly cookbook filled with recipes using essential oils so others can add some extra “flavor” the foods they eat meanwhile gaining tons of health benefits too!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
We all have the decision to look at each situation as a glass half empty or a glass half full situation. When I reflect on situations in my past, I choose to look for the good. There is always a lesson to be learned. If you look deep enough, you can find “nuggets of gold.”
So, has my journey been flawless or without ups and downs? Absolutely not! I’ve had business opportunities come and go, contracts I’ve had to walk away from, product launches flop, and business opportunities slip through my hands. But the way I choose to look at it today is that all those situations were for the better. Besides, when you focus on the good, you see more of the good that surrounds you! While all of those ups and downs were disappointing in the moment, they have led me to become the person I am today. And I am proud of that!
As a result of all the lessons I‘ve learned along the journey, today I can say my business is thriving. Most importantly, I get to celebrate the many positive outcomes of those I support because their lives (and health) have changed for the better!
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Essential Thyme story. Tell us more about the business.
I am a wellness advocate and founder of Essential Thyme. I help people identify the areas in their life that may be triggered to what they are experiencing. This could be stress, lack of energy, fatigue, or something at a deeper level. We work together to identify lifestyle changes necessary to see desired results. This could be diet changes, daily habits, or product swapping. Believe it or not, toxins are found in the foods we eat, our personal care products that we put on our bodies, and in the cleaning products we use spray in the air and clean our homes.
Thanks to Sarah Harnisch in her book, Gameplan, we know that “the average person applies 300 chemicals to their body every single day, and 80 of those chemicals before breakfast! Most are from four things, soap, makeup, shampoo, and hair care. The biggest pollutants in our home are fabric softener, dryer sheets, air freshener, plug-ins, and candles. You are literally poisoning your family every day with the stuff you cannot pronounce in your home, like your bright blue dish soap, the cleaner you use for your kitchen counters, processed food, and more. Health and safety only exist for 15 percent of all chemicals out there, even though so many are known to cause respiratory problems or endocrine disruptions.”
I’ve found that therapeutic grade essential oils are a safer alternative. They are the most powerful part of the plant and are distilled from shrubs, flowers, trees, roots, bushes, fruits, rinds, resins, and herbs. When we use them on our bodies they support every system from your muscular system, skeletal system, circulatory system, endocrine system and your hormones, respiratory system, and immune system. They support brain health, a healthy weight, and even emotions. And, this is just the beginning!
In addition, I’m also excited to announce that I just released my very first cookbook called Essential Thyme. Diet plays a huge role in our health and wellness. 80% of our immune system is located in our digestive system. This is why having a healthy gut plays a major role in our overall wellness. Using essential oils in the foods we eat can offer a whole lot of health benefits. They maintain a healthy body pH level, promote the elimination of toxins from the body, support digestion and promote a healthy metabolism, just to name a few.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
To me, success is not about luck. It is about setting goals, taking the right steps, adjusting when necessary along the way, and creating bigger goals once your smaller goals have been reached. Most importantly, success is about mindset. Henry Ford stated, “whether you think you can or you think you can’t you’re right.”
This reminds me in my business and in life that my success is up to me by the thoughts I am thinking and the actions I take. If I believe I can do something, it comes to me more quickly and with ease. Quite the opposite is true too! When I believe something is a challenger or can’t be done, those opportunities tend to slip through my fingers. I encourage each and every one of you to pay attention to your thoughts.
Are they setting you up for failure or success? Try playing a game with yourself. When you catch yourself thinking something negative, give yourself a hypothetical point because you caught that negative thought. Then, replace it with a positive one that ultimately supports your goals and dreams. Because you, too, deserve, the very best!
Pricing:
- Essential Thyme Cookbook $24.99
Contact Info:
- Website: www.Essential-Thyme.com
- Phone:5409312529
- Email:Erinmargaretward@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/essential.thyme/
- Facebook: bit.ly/essential-thyme
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
